Tympan mechanism for printing-presses.



M. A. DROITCOUR. TYMPAN MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PBESSES.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 5, 1909.

966,533, Patented Au 9, 19m

6 SHEETS-1133! 1. Y

M. A. DROITGOUR.

TYMPAN MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSBS.

6 8HEBTSBHEET 2.

Patented' Aug. 9, 1910.

. v Int/e 72 66;:

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 5, 1909.

M. A. DROITGOUR;

TYMPAN MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 5, 1909. Patented Aug. 9,1910.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

M. A. DROITGOUR.

TYMPAN MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRBSSES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 5, 1909. 966,533. Patented Aug. 9, 1910.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

M. A. DROITGOUR.

TYMPAN MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PBBSSES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 5, 1909.

Patented Aug. 9, 1910.

6 BKEETB'SHEET 5.

M. ALDROITGOUR. v TYMPAN MECHANISM FOR PRINTING 'PBESSES. APPLIOATIOiT FILED AUG. 5, 1909.

966,533. Patnted Aug. 9; 1910.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

fig E. v

A cgwsgiok UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

MICHAEL A. DROI'ICOIIR, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO MIEHLE PRINTING PRESS AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,

OF ILLINOIS.

A CORPORATION TYMPAN MECHANISM FOR PRINTING-PRESSES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 9, 1910.

Application filed August5, 1909. Serial No. 511,432.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MICHAEL A. DRorrcone, of Chica 'o, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tympan Mechshifted at regular intervals during the oper-.

ation of the press.

The invention also provides a novel combination of tympan shifting and wiping de vices; also novel means whereby the tympan rolls can be readily removed from the impression cylinder; also provides novel looking' devices whereby the gripiper rests, the stretcher sheets, packings, an tympan roll bearings, can be respectively locked in position when adjusted.

I In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated the invention as attached to a rotary cylinder sheet printing press, and will describe the invention with reference to said drawings, premising that the invention is not restricted to the specific form and operation of parts illustrated; and I have summarized in the claims the features, parts and combinations of parts wherein the lnvention resides and for which protection is desired.

In' said drawings :-Figure 1 represents a diagrammatical sectional elevation of th'e perfecting mechanism of a sheet printing press to which my invention isapplied.

Fig. 2. Fi 7 is a sectional view on the .line 7-7, Fig. 4; and Fig. 8.is a. detail view of the gearing for operating the wiper rolls. In the drawings A, A, represent plate cylinders, which cooperate with impression cylinders B, B. The sheet is first printed by the cylinders A, B, and then perfected by the cylinders A and B. The cylinder B is preferably made of sufiiciently large diameter tocarry two sheets and is provided with two sets of sheet grippers C; and with two shifting tympan webs W each of which extends approximately over one-half of the cylinder and its ends are wrapped on shafts 1, 1", journaled within and at approximately giametrically opposite points of the cyliner. I

The sheets can be fed in succession to cylinder B which is adapted to receive the sheets alternately from feed boards F, F; and the sheets can be delivered from the cyllnder B to tapes D, or to a delivery cylinder E by which they are delivered to tapes E, the parts being preferably so arranged that the sheets fed from board F can be delivered by cylinder E and tapes E to one table (not 'shown) and the sheets fed from board F can be delivered by tapes D to another table (not shown.) This however forms no part of the present invention.

The two sets of shifting tympan mechanism in the cylinder B are constructed and "operated alike, therefore the description of one wlll explain both; similar parts being similarly lettered in? the drawings.

One end of the roll 1 on which the tympan W is wound. is provided with a stud 1 which is adapted to engage a socket in the inner end of a rotatable stub-shaft 2 journaled in one'end of the cylinder B, see Figs. 2 and 3. The roll 1 can be locked to rotate with stub-shaft 2 by means of a pin 1 transfixing stud 1 and enga 'n a transverse groove 2* in the end of stuIi-shaft 2, see Fig. 6. The roll may be detachably but not ,rotatably connected with the stub-shaft in any other desirable manner. On the other end of the shaft of roll 1 is a trunnion 1, which is journaled in a bushing 1 removably mounted in one arm of a'trlangular bracket 3 which is pivoted at its lower angle on a pin 3, .on the adjacent'head of the cylinder B; and in the-other angle of the bracket is -a slot 3 adapted to be engaged with a pin -3 on the head of the cylinder B. .The

bracket can be locked in engagement with the pin 3 by means of a novel lock which comprises a short plate G pivotally mounted on a pin 9 attached to the end of the cylinder adjacent the pin 3, .and adapted to be swung a spring g attached to the plate and bearing against a ping attached to the head of the cylinder, see Fi 4. The free end of the locking plate G is rounded or cam-faced as shown at 9 so that it will wedge tightly against'the object with which it is engaged and will hold the latter securely in place and compensate itself for any slight ineualities of adjustment or thickness of parts.

he late is provided with an aperture g? in w ich a. pointed tool or rod can be inserted so as to give a leverage'on the plate and enable it to be disengaged from the bracket 3'and allow the latter to be swung clear of the end pf the roll 1, the bushing 1 being'first disengaged from the bracket, and

then the t mpan roll or shaft 1 can be withdrawn en wise from the c linder B through an opening B in the cylinder head, shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

The rolls 1 may be mounted similarly to the rolls 1, so that any of the rolls can be removed and replaced through the openings 13 in the head of the cylinder.

The trunnion 1 is detachably engaged with the rotatable stub-shaft 2 so as to permit the rolls, 1 to be removed from or entered into the cylinder as described. Stubsh-aft 2 has a friction disk 2 fixed on'its inner end and engaged by friction straps 2', attached to pin 2 fast to the cylinder head so that the desired friction can be placed on the disk and stub-shaft sufiicient to prevent the tympan roll moving by momentum.

Slight intermittent movements are imparted to the stub-shaft 2 and the tympan roll by the following devices, (see particularly Figs. 2, 3 and 6). The stub-shaft 2 is extended sli htly beyond the head of the cylinder B an its outer end is journaled in a bracket B attached to the head of the cylinder as shown. On the stub-shaft between the bracket and cylinder head is keyed a ratchet 4 whichgis adapted to be engaged and consequently roll 1, a predetermined exby a dog'4, pivoted on the end of a lever 4 loosely hung on the reduced end of the stubshaft 2, and having a toothed segmental end 4 which meshes with a segment 5 on the upper end of a" lever 5 pivoted on a pin 5 engaging the cylinder head and bracket B,

, see Fig. 6. The lever .5 hasa cam roller 5 on its oWer end adapted to engage a cam 5, which is rigidly attached to the frame H of the press, around the journal bearing of the cylinder, as indicated in Figs. 2, 3 and 6, so that for each rotation of thecylinder the.

lever 5 will be oscillated, and will operate lever 4 and cause dog 4 to move ratchet 4,

tent of revolution. The cam 59 may be a race toward, and be held in engagement with, the side of the7bracket 3 by means of cam, or a face cam as shown, and roller 5* is held in engagement therewithby a suitable spring, as indicated at 5 Figs. 2 and 6.

In order to determine and regulate the extent of movement imparted to the tympan roll during each rotation of the cylinder B,

l I provide novel means for automatically I varying the time of operative engagement of the dog 4 with the ratchet 4, as follows: On the stub-shaft 2 beside thedisk 4 I place a loose disk 6 which has a parti-cylindric flange or trip portion 6 equal in lengthto the full stroke of the dog 4; the-tooth of the dog 4 engages and bears upon thistrip portion 6 when the dog is retracted, see' Fig. 2, and while in engagement with this trip or drag portion 6 the dog is'held out of engagement with the ratchet 6. By shifting the disk 6 so as to advance-or recede this trip or drag portion in relation to the dog,

the extent of operative engagement ofthe dog 4 with the ratchet 4 can be varied,-- -and conse uently the extent of rotation imparted tot e-tympan roll 2 from cam 5 will depend upon the position of this trip 6.

The trip 6 is automatically shifted and positioned according to the diameter of the tympan roll onthe shaft 1 as follows: To the disk 6 is pivotally' connected one end of a link 6* the other end of which is pivotally connected to the outer end of an arm 6 fast to arock-shaft 6f? journaled in the cylinder head; and on the inner end of this rock- .shaft 6 is attathed an arm 6 carrying a roller-6, which/ is normally held in contact with the, tympan web on the roll 1 by suitable meansas by a spring 6 interposed between arm 6 and a stud 6 on the cylinder head, see Fig. 2. By this means 'it will be seenthat for each rotation of the cylinder B each tympan web therein will be shifted roller 6 is orced away from the roll 1 and.

through the described connections shifts trip 6" so as to graduallyprolong the drag of the do thereon, and shorten the effective time o engagementof the dog with the cam; and the time of engagement of the dog .with the cams shortens proportionately to the increase of tympan web on roll 1; in this way the-shifting of the tympan is made practically uniform at all times, whether there be little or much tympan on the roll 1.

While in the drawings I have shown cylinder B as adapted to coiiperate with two therewith a wipin plate cylinders, and as carrying two tympan webs, it should be understood that the inventionso far as shifting the tympan is concerned-is applicable to a smaller cylinder; or only one tympan might be used instead of two where the cylinder is to print but one-sheet during each rotation.

When all the web has been shifted from roll 1 to roll 1 the rolls maybe interchanged in a well understood manner and the web unwound from the full roll as before.

The tympan web is used to prevent offset, as is well known, and in order to lessen the necessity of shifting the web rapidly, and at the same time keep it in effective operative condition, I may employ in connectiontympan T, see Fig. 1. This tympan runs mm a roll 7 over a guide 7 and under a guide7 back to a take-up roll 7; which rolls 7 and 7 may be operated by a shifting mechanism such as described for rolls 1, the lever 5 in such case being operated from a rotatable cam or other convenient part of the machine; but any suitable devices may be used for shifting the wiping tympan fromone roll to the other, many such being commonly known in the art.

Intermediate the tympan T and the cylinder B, and preferably located to contact -with the periphery of this cylinder in advance of the cylinder.D are transfer rollers 7 which are of suitable composition to remove ink from the surface of the tympan web W, said rollers rotating with the tympanweb W and .being driven by frictional contact therewith and with rollers 7. Contacting with the transfer rollers 7 e are wiper rollers 7', which also contact with the wiper tympan T,- and are adapted to remove'ink from the periphery of rolls 7 and deliver it to the tympan T. The wiper rolls 7 may be driven by gears 7 from a gear 7 on one roll 7 meshing with a gear 7 on the shaft of cylinder B, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 8.

By the means described it willbe seen that offset, and smutting is prevented, first by periodically shifting the tympans W; sec ond by cleaning the tympans W by the wiper web T and rolls 7 By using the wiper web it is not necessary, to shift the. tympans W rapidly and the press can be run a much greater number of impressions before it becomes necessary to change the tympans than would bepossible if the wiper web was 'not the top of cylinder B and is delivered at the used.

As above stated the sheet is first printed on one side between the plate cylinder A and the impression cylinder B; it is then transferred from cylinder B" to cylinder B and printed a second time between cylinders B and A. The sheet is taken practically at lower edge thereof. Of course the tympan .to the lock G above describe web W must not be shifted while the sheet is in contact therewith and therefore the parts are so arranged that the lever 5 will only be operated 'to shift the tympan W while it is on the ascending side of the cylinder B. The wiper rolls 7" running with the tympans do not interfere with the shifting thereof and the amount of shift r uired is so small that there is no'danger o rupturing the tympan because of the quick action requiredin shifting the same by reason of the short space 'of time permitted for such action when the press-is operating at high speed,

The cylinder B can be provided with the usual draw sheets S as indicated in the drawings, see particularly-Figs. 2 and 4.

These need not herein.

The locking devices G can be very advantag'eously employed for locking the pack be specifically described ing clamps, and the gripper rest plates. As

indicated in the 'drawlngs, Fig. 4, the packing clamps 8 are mounted on a shaft 8*, as usual, and this shaft is provided with an arm 8 that is engaged by a lock G which is constructed like the lock G above described and needs no more detailed explanation. When lock. G is in engage ment with the arm 8 -the packing clamps are securely closed against the packing as indicated in Fig. 4. By reason of the cam.

face 9 the lock' will securely fasten the clamps and permit different thicknesses of packings to be used and securely fasten same without any mechanical readjustment of 1 parts, the cam surface 9 automatically compensating for variations in thickness of the packings. I

Gripper rests 9., of usual construction, are mounted on a shaft 9, as usual; but in place of the complicated devices heretofore used for locking the gripper rests in positionI provideshaft 9*with an arm 9 which abuts against a stop 9 -on the cylinder head, see

Fig. 4, when the gripper rests are in operative position, and arm 9 is engaged and locked in this position by a lock Gr similar In my construction the tympan W is preferably shifted for each impression but only to a slight extent. This prevents-the formation of any deep pockets or indentations from the type surface in the tympan web and enables the web to be thoroughly wiped and cleaned by the wiper rollers; and by wiping the tympan web W, I practically have an always clean'impression surface so that there will be absolute uniformity in the printed pnoduct and there will be no offset or smut on the perfected sheet.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent thereon is:

plate and impression cylinders, a tympan on the impression cylinder, means for shifting the tympan during the rotation of the cylinder, Wiper rolls cooperating-with the tympan, and means for removing ink from the wiper rolls.

- 4. In a printing press the combination of plate and impression cylinders, a shifting tympan-on the impression cylinder, means forv slightly shifting the tympan during each rotation of the cylinder, a wiper tympan for removing ink from the shifting tympan, and wiper rolls for transferring ink from the shifting tympan to the wiper tympan.

5. In combination an impression cylinder,

a tympan web thereon, and rolls for said web; with means for intermittently shifting said tympan, comprising a ratchet con nected with one of the rollshafts, a swinging lever, a dog thereon engaging said ratchet, a toothed segment engaging said lever, and a cam for operating said segment during the rotation of the cylinder, and means for varying the extent of engagement of the dog and ratchet according to the size of the tympan roll.

6. In combination a tympan web, and rolls for said web; with means for intermittently shifting said tympan comprising a ratchet connected with one of the roll shafts, a

swinging lever, a dog thereon engaging said ratchet, a camfor operating said lever; a

shiftable It-rip beside said ratchet for regu lating the extent of engagement of the dog therewith, and means for automatically shifting said tri in accordance with the increase of the we on the roll. I

7. Incombination. an impression cylinder, a tympanweb thereon, and means for intermittently shifting said tympan comprising a ratchet connected with one of the roll shafts; a dog thereonengagin said ratchet,

means foroperating said dog uring the rotation of the cylinder; a shiftable trip beside said ratchet for regulating the extent of enag'ementvof' the dog therewith,-and means or automatically shifting said trip in accoi'dance with the increase of the web on the r0 1. a e

8, In combination a tympan' web roll, and means for periodically shifting said web roll; with a shiftable trip for regulating the extent of shift of the roll, and means for an- 2. In a printing press the combination of tomatically shifting said tri by and in accordance with the increase 0 the web on the roll.

9. In combiriation a tympan web, rolls therefor, and a pawl and ratchet for period'- ically shifting one of said rolls to wind the web thereon; with a shiftable trip for regulating the time and extent of engagement of the pawl with the ratchet, and means for automatically shiftin said trip' in accordance with the increase 0 web on the winding roll.

1O. In combination tympan web supporting rolls, and means for intermittently shifting said tympan, comprising a ratchet for operating one of the roll shafts, a movable dog engaging said ratchet, a shiftable trip for determining the time and extent of .en gagement of the pawl with the ratchet, and means for automatically shifting said trip in accordance with the increase of web on the roll.

11. In combination, a tympan web, rolls for said web, and means for intermittently shifting said rolls comprising a ratchet connected with 'one of the roll shafts, a swinging lever, a dogthereon engaging said ratchet, and means for operating said lever; with a shiftable trip beside said ratchet for regulating the extent of engagement of the dog therewith, and means for automatically shifting said trip in accordance with the increase of the web on the roll.

12. In combination, a tympan web winding roll, a stub-shaft to which one end of the tympan winding roll is detachably attached, a ratcheton the stub-shaft, a movable dog engaging'said ratchet, a trip for determining the extent of engagement of'the pawl with the ratchet, and means for automatically shifting said trip in accordance with the increase of web on the roll.

13. In combination a tympan web, rolls for'said web, a stub-shaft to which the web Winding roll is detachably connected, a ratchet connected with the stub-shaft, aswinging lever, a dog thereon engaging said ratchet, and means for operating said lever; with a shiftable dog trip beside said ratchet, and means for automatically/shifting said trip in accordance with the increase of theweb on the roll.

y 14:. In combination, atympan-roll shaft, and means for intermittently operating said shaft comprising a ratchet, an" oscillating lever having a toothed segment 011 one end, and a pawl on its other end adapted to engage the segment, an oscillating lever pivoted beside the first lever and having a segmental end meshing with the segmental end of the other' 'lever; means for oscillating the second lever at regular intervals, and a trip beside the segment.

15. In combination, a tympan roll shaft, means for intermittently operating said shaft comprising a ratchet,'an oscillating I latter is regu at regular intervals; with a lever havin a pawladapted' to engage the ratchet, an means for oscillating the lever awl trip beside the ratchet adapted to elay engagement of the pawl therewith, a deviceadapted to bear against the tympan on the roll, and

connections between sald device'and said trip whereby the position of the latter is reglulated by the amount of tympan on the ro 16. In combination, a tympan winding roll shaft and means for intermittently opcrating said shaft comprising a ratchet, an

oscillating lever having a toothed segment on one end, and a pawl onits other end adapted to engage the segment, an oscillating leve pivoted beside the first lever and having a segmental end meshing with the segmental end of the other lever, and means a tion disk on the end thereof, a tympan roll ratchet w en perm tted detachably connected with said stub-shaft, a-

ratchet on the said shaft, a disk loosely mounted on the shaft besidethe ratchet and having a pawl trip, a lever hung on the shaft carr ing a dog adapjted to engage the y said trip, and

means for operating said lever.

18; In combination, a stub-shaft, a friction disk on the end thereof, a tympan roll detachably connected with said stub-shaft, a

ratchet on the said shaft, a disk loosely mounted on the shaft beside the ratchet and having a pawl trip,- a lever hung on the shaft carrying a dog adapted to engage the ratchet when permitted by said trip, and means for operating said lever; with means regulated ,by the amount'of web on the roll for shifting said trip so as to shorten the amount of throw ofthe ratchet as the tympan, accumu-f lates on the roll.

19. In combination, a tympan roll, a friction disk at the end thereof, a ratchet for turning said shaft, a disk loosely mounted I beside the ratchet and havinga .pawl trip, a lever having a segmental end and carrying a dog adapted to engagethe ratchet when permitted ed beside the first lever and havin a segmental end engaging the segment-a end of the first lever, and means for oscillating said second lever; with arock-shaft, an arm on said shaft carrying a roller adapted to bear against the tympan on the roll, a sec- .ond arm on said lever and a link connecting y said trip, a second lever pivot-t said arm with said disk, whereby the trip is shlilfted as the tympan accumulates-on the ro 20. In combination, a stub-shaft, a friction disk on the end thereof, a tympan roll detachably connected with said stub-shaft, a

ratchet on the said shaft, a disk loosely mounted on the shaft beside the ratchet and having-a pawl trip, a lever hung on the shaft and having a segmental end, a dog on said lever adapted to engage the ratchet when permitted by said trip, a second lever pivoted beside the first lever and having a segmental end engaging the segment on the first lever,

and means for oscillating said second lever; with means regulated by the amount of web on the roll for shifting said trip so as to the object to be loc ed, a pin pivoting said plate to its support, and a spring connected with said plate for holding it in looking position. a

23. A locking device for the purpose specified comprising a plate pivoted at one end and having a rounded cam surface on its free end adapted to engage and wedge against the ob ect to be locked, and 'a spring connected with said plate and adapted to hold it yieldingly in lockin position.

j 24. A locking device for t e purpose specified, comprising a plate pivoted at one end and having a wedge or cam face on its outer end adapted to engage and wedge against the object to be locked, and havin a hole for engagement of a releasing too and a sprin connected, with said plate for-holding it yie dingly' in engagement .with the object to be locked.

25. In a printin press the combination of an impression cy inder, a tympan thereon,

means for slightly shifting said tympan on the cylinder intermediate the taking of impressions, and means for removing the offset ink from said tympan after each impression. 26. Inaprinting press the combination of an impression cylinder, a tympan thereon, means for intermittentlyshifting said tympan; with a wiper tympan beside the cylinder means for shifting-the wiper tympan, an means for transferring ofl'set ink from the cylinder tympan to the wiper tympan.

27. In a printing press the combinatlon of plate and impression cylinders, a tympan on the impression ciylinder and means for ina wiper tympan beside the cylinder and termittently shi ting said tympan during wiper rolls contacting both tympans and the rotation of the cylinder; with wiper adapted to transfer ofi'set ink from the shift-,-

rolls beside the cylinder for removing ofl'set ing tympan to the wiper tympan. 15 5 ink from the tympan, and means for re- In testimony thatI claim the foregoing as moving the ink from said wiper rolls. my own, I alfix my signature in presence of 28. In a. printing press the combination of two witnesses. plate and lmpression cylinders,a shifting MICHAEL A. DROITCOUR. tympan on the impression cylinder, and Witnesses: 0 means for slightly shifting said tympan JAMES R. MANSFIELD, V

during each rotation of the cylinder; with L. E'. WITHAM. 

